The Beat

PETER MOORE

We Can Do Better

That’s an expression I frequently use when asked to defend EA’s place in the gaming industry. And it comes to mind again this week as we get deeper into the brackets of an annual Web poll to name the “Worst Company in America.”

This is the same poll that last year judged us as worse than companies responsible for the biggest oil spill in history, the mortgage crisis, and bank bailouts that cost millions of taxpayer dollars. The complaints against us last year were our support of SOPA (not true), and that they didn’t like the ending to Mass Effect 3.

This year’s contest started in March with EA outpolling a company which organizers contend is conspiring to corner the world market on mid-priced beer, and (gulp) allegedly waters down its product. That debate takes place in bars – our audience lives on the Internet. So no surprise that we drew more votes there.

Let me cut to the chase: it appears EA is going to “win.” Like the Yankees, Lakers and Manchester United, EA is one of those organizations that is defined by both a legacy of success, and a legion of critics (especially me regarding all three of those teams).

Are we really the “Worst Company in America?” I’ll be the first to admit that we’ve made plenty of mistakes. These include server shut downs too early, games that didn’t meet expectations, missteps on new pricing models and most recently, severely fumbling the launch of SimCity. We owe gamers better performance than this.

Some of these complaints are 100 percent legitimate – like all large companies we are not perfect. But others just don’t hold water:

Many continue to claim the Always-On function in SimCity is a DRM scheme. It’s not. People still want to argue about it. We can’t be any clearer – it’s not. Period.

Some claim there’s no room for Origin as a competitor to Steam. 45 million registered users are proving that wrong.

Some people think that free-to-play games and micro-transactions are a pox on gaming. Tens of millions more are playing and loving those games.

We’ve seen mailing lists that direct people to vote for EA because they disagree with the choice of the cover athlete on Madden NFL. Yes, really…

In the past year, we have received thousands of emails and postcards protesting against EA for allowing players to create LGBT characters in our games. This week, we’re seeing posts on conservative web sites urging people to protest our LGBT policy by voting EA the Worst Company in America.

That last one is particularly telling. If that’s what makes us the worst company, bring it on. Because we're not caving on that.

We are committed to fixing our mistakes. Over the last three weeks, 900,000 SimCity players took us up on a free game offer for their troubles. We owed them that. We’re constantly listening to feedback from our players, through our Customer Experience group, Twitter, this blog, or other sites. The feedback is vital, and impacts the decisions we make.

I expect the debate will include a lot of comments under this post. But here’s the truth: each year EA interacts with more than 350 million gamers; Origin is breaking records for revenue and users; The Simpsons: Tapped Out and Real Racing 3 are at the top of the mobile charts; Battlefield 3 and FIFA are stunning achievements with tens of millions of players; and SimCity is being enjoyed by millions of passionate fans all over the world.

Every day, millions of people across globe play and love our games – literally, hundreds of millions more than will vote in this contest.

So here’s my response to this poll: We can do better. We will do better. But I am damn proud of this company, the people around the globe who work at EA, the games we create and the people that play them.

The tallest trees catch the most wind. At EA we remain proud and unbowed.

TAGS:

Comments (868)

Working for a company that dismisses customer complaints at the highest level pretty much seems like a dream job.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

thedoddfatherb00

Yeah, I had my ultimate team hacked in December and it was never replaced, despite endless false promises. But what i think he was saying was that judging by the eloquence of this blog entree, he would work under the man who wrote it.

Apr 7, 2013

0 Replies

BaconGobbler00

Funny; I never thought of wanting to make my wife an "EA Widow", working on games with poor customer support, and practicing horrendous labour hours was on my "top ten employers I want to work for" list.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

Inkwaboom00

Where on the internet did you read that? You know because everything someone says on a forum post is true eh?

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

FacelessMau500

EA Sucks, end of story.
I tried using live chat and the guy's name was "Abrashnek"
EA is the king of ***** customer service.
The one thing they're good at? Being the worst.
Congrats EA.

Nov 2, 2013

0 Replies

WarriorServent1000

I wouldnt if I were you, there have been reports of EA running there people ragged, with them being forced to work extra time

Apr 15, 2013

0 Replies

x3Rampage+5-1

i would NOT work for EA

Apr 7, 2013

0 Replies

dasothem00

so do I.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

zin9000

Then you would work for a company without proper customer experience, at least the good side of it.
They screw you over eventually and you can't do **** unless you want to take them to court. But only then to get even more screwed because if they know they are going to lose then at least then can profit by prolong the case. This will cost you so much that you eventually have to close the case, you're left with legal fees and they get to go and screw over more customers.
I've gotten screwed by this company and its partners too many times, was looking forward to upcoming EA title(s) but wont buy them only because of very poor to non existent customer service.
Some of the things they do;
- Takes no accountability
- Hang up on you on the phone or let you wait forever
- Send your case to the highest level of support and then close it without a reason
- Ignore you(refers to the two above)
- Answer with automated messages
- Let you wait in chat support and provides with countless of useless "solutions"
There's no different between EA support and being in prison, you still get ****** and nothing you can do about it other than cry.

Nov 8, 2013

0 Replies

mateuspradosousa+3-15

Jesus, so much hate, this is internet after all, where people hide on their avatars to say bad things to others. This is not only about EA, but Square Enix, Capcom, Activision, Apple, ABC, Fox, Justin Bieber...everything that is popular. Say what you want haters but EA still one of the best selling companies of the world, and people love their games because they buy it every year, people don't buy what they really hate. Yes, they make mistakes, but anyone is perfect

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

coolgame343+1-3

your right no one is perfect NO ONE so everyone stop asking EA to be there better then mos

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

EmptyCups00

hey man, we are here to hate on EA. Square Enix hate, just as deserved as EA hate, doesn't belong here.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

asukuuru+7-4

For what i hear, they are actually a good company to work for, their problem is their little interest in the customer.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

whitemike311+50

I live in Orlando, where Tiburon is and Madden is made, and I know several people who have worked for EA. Every single ex-employee I have spoken to have emphatically urged me not to work for them. These weren't people who were fired, nor were they people who are unknown in the I.T. industry in Orlando.
The I.T. industry in Orlando is a close-knit community because we all train and work in the same areas and we intermingle. Once you earn a poor reputation as an employer, such as EA or UCF, you become an organization that cannot attract the best talent in the city. That is what EA is in Orlando, and we happen to have a very well connected Game Design school as well as a Digital Media school within UCF.
If that is the type of company you want to work for that is your decision but I would seriously think again.

activision did not win cause they brought out worst game ever Walking dead survival instinct they why they did not win
EA did not win shocking guessing cause sim city game keep updating server fail etc

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

neveauxor+20-4

Though I will say there are companies much much worse then EA. However EA is certainly one of the worst video game companies for the way it treats their customers.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

WisemanFugu+40

I want them to release some screencaps or provide some links to these anti-LGBT and anti-EA forums/posts they claim exist. Has anyone EVER seen this? No.
Then again, if they did, there would be a decent chance that EA doctored or created the posts (See Dante's Inferno). Does that speak more of us being unable to trust EA, or of EA being completely untrustworthy?

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

kathy_koski00

True dat

Apr 7, 2013

0 Replies

slateacComment Flagged+247-9

45 million 'registered' on Origin, but how many are actually 'satisfied'?

Apr 5, 2013

27 Replies

Ethrock00

Also, how many of these people are on this ****-steaming platform only because you're not allowed to have Battlefield unless you join its moronic little friends club. It's like the guy that won't be your friend in real life until you follow him on Twitter.

Jun 24, 2013

0 Replies

YolBlind+2-1

45 million, WHAT ALOAD of CRAP.. You go on P- STATS. com It will tell you how many actually playing on line.. And It's only a few. Because people are SICK & TRIED trying to their CRAPPY games..

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

plain_ole_painComment Flagged+9-1

His remark says it all.. Do you think EA really cares? This all just CEO talk with no real substance as usual. Gaming industry is in for a rude awaking if this continues.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

Fr4tricide+130

I'm counted in that 45 million even though the only purpose Origin ever served for me was "BF3 Launcher".
Way to force your crap software on people then tell them they love it. lol

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

GamerKingFaiz+10

This. So much this.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

KimFromKorea+50

The account I just made to post silly nonsense here actually counts as an Origin account, even though I'll never download the thing.
Hope that puts their Origin statistics into perspective.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

simonthumper+10

Been waiting 18 hours for my game to appear in Origin... still hasn't appeared in my history... "Purchases may take up to half an hour to appear here", satisfied my a**e...

Apr 13, 2013

0 Replies

x3Rampage+20

i, for one, am not.
for me one of the games that promised the most but delivered the least is NFS Most Wanted, the latest one i mean. go to NFSMW forum page and you'll see, especially the Feedback section. many people (including me) had to become a computer technician to able to play the game, and even THEN it wouldnt work properly

Apr 7, 2013

0 Replies

Entegy+150

I'm certainly not. Not when customer support continues to do the worst thing: Merely pick out keywords out of the issue and give me irrelevant links to solve the issue, then disconnect on me.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

IFlummoxedI+60

I wanted to play Battlefield 3. Buying through retail store or online, I am forced to use Origin to play.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

BeyondEnergy0-2

No you don't. You are not forced to use Origin to play Battlefield 3. Just bookmark Battlelog and play as usual.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

TK-Saihtam+40

But as you probably noticed, you still need to use Origin to start & update BF3.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

iamwormbuffet+110

Had to register to play a game. How many of these 45 million were forced into this and how many ever used it afterwards? These are the interesting numbers!

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

Insurgence90+10

how many actively use their account. That would actually tell us how many people actually use it instead of being shanghaied in to using it because their old EA account was migrated over. I myself actually have 2 accounts. One I forgot about a while ago before Origin, but it was migrated over without my knowledge until I heard comments about it, but by then I had already created another one to play ME3.
Honestly, people should do a little better when it comes to posting "We can do better" articles. Sure the Consumerist polls of worst company in America are obviously skewed, but it still needs to be taken note of. Not ignored. People voted for EA for a reason, and it sure was not because they are making customers happy.

Apr 25, 2013

0 Replies

LordCreo+50

If Origin is as popular and as good as you say, why force people to use it?
Why not make BF4 available on Steam and Origin and let people decide which they want to use.
I, for one, will only be buying BF4 if it comes out on steam, in much the same way as I bypassed BF3 because it was Origin only.

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

SparkyFlintston+140

Satisfied? how many of the 45 million are current gamers?

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

EmpyrealSciva+50

You know what the funny thing is? I logged into origin last week and had a **** ton of friend requests, from who you ask? People on facebook that is, probly from playing the sims or whatever EA has on there. I doubt many of them actually play them games anymore and are just a statistic now.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

WisemanFugu+60

How many of any of EA customers are satisfied? The PR always states 'Millions of people love the always-online functionality' or 'Millions of people enjoy micro-transactions in games' (para-phrasing).
If they could point to a single (fair) consumer survey to back up those claims then they could start to argue they are in the right. Until then, why should we believe in a company that has done near-nothing to dig itself out of the 'Worst Company in America 2012' hole?

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

KhoraxG+50

I'm an Origin user because I cannot play EA games without Origin. I can't even post this comment without being one of the beans that this suit is counting. Number of registered users don't mean crap. Number of satisfied customers means a WHOLE lot more. Why not ask Origin customers 'Are you satisfied?' Put a poll out, and publish the percent. Then you can brag about it.

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

flacstar+10

Nothing better then being forced into those 45 million due to wanting pretty much one game (Battlefield 3, which support took 1-3 months to help)

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

mateuspradosousa+1-5

Jesus, so much hate, this is internet after all, where people hide on their avatars to say bad things to others. This is not only about EA, but Square Enix, Capcom, Activision, Apple, ABC, Fox, Justin Bieber...everything that is popular. Say what you want haters but EA still one of the best selling companies of the world, and people love their games because they buy it every year, people don't buy what they really hate. Yes, they make mistakes but anyone is perfect

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

WisemanFugu+20

Everyone makes mistakes, but good companies attempt to improve customer experience. EA's priorities are clear; Sim City released a Nissan advertisement as DLC rather than continuing to patch the (sometimes breakable) aspects of the game.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

MaxQuack+70

I have Origin for BF3, Steam for EVERYTHING ELSE.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

Rheq+70

I'm not. And I only registered to get Battlefield 3, and they mucked me round in the same way people were with SimCity purchases. I'm sure they know that if they weren't so foolish and were selling BF3 on steam I wouldn't be here. So yes, until they grow up, worst gaming company in the world.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

Haiirycake+20

I'd like EA to know that the only reason I am registered in Origin is because I had to to play the game I bought on steam... I mean really...

Apr 11, 2013

0 Replies

Moeskeeto00

45 million registered users 90% of which are forced to use the program

Dec 10, 2013

0 Replies

L_R_Trenchant+60

Got an Origin account because I bought Dragon Age Ultimate Edition off Amazon. None of the DLC would load off Origin. I totally forgot about the game (or waste of 20 bucks as I like to call it,) I'm curious to see if it will work now, it's been about 2 years since I got it.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

AGamblingManComment Flagged+181-6

And yet not a single mention of exactly how they intend to do better, or what that might eventually look like.

Apr 5, 2013

6 Replies

KimFromKorea+11-1

That's because they don't intend to do anything, this whole statement was another segway into using LGBT as a human shield again.
Based on leaks and rumors that happened since SWTOR, EA's problems are too deeply rooted in their management for any real changes to happen.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

BarnacleSim+9-1

Exactly. This is all just more "wind" on their part. Nothing will change and if it does, the consumers will still not get what they have been asking for.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

Madriiax+10-1

From what I gather, they intend to do better by ignoring all the wind, coming from us annoying, unsatisfied customers.
And I knew better than to buy Sim City

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

BarnacleSim+3-1

Did not buy it either.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

RoboMaster2000+80

Yeah. A single paragraph about how they could do better buried in an entire article about how they aren't really as bad as everybody says they are is not terribly convincing.
Not to mention claiming that the online component of SimCity is not DRM because they say it is not DRM without offering any proof or explanations to back that up. (In any case, whether it's DRM or not, it is definitely protection against reselling the game used, which is almost as bad.)

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

alex_mhm00

mr. more can't tell you anything without a market survey.

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

monito89+187-4

The only reason I use Origin is because you were greedy enough to pull your catalog out of STEAM just to MAKE ME use your software. Far Cry 3 for instance, I could buy it in steam AND uplay! And please loose that arrogance EA. And lastly, we love your licences more than we love EA, never forget that.

Apr 5, 2013

7 Replies

onlysatsui+50

I bought one game with Origin and I hate to even play it because I have to use Origin. The layout/design is awful, and it's just an overall bad piece of software. A good publisher allows people to purchase games through as many mediums as possible.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

ABCEasyAsALI+50

45 million users are registered to Origin, only because they purchase a game, or want to purchase a game which NEEDS Origin. How many of those users are also registered to Steam? How many games do they have on Steam compared to the 2-3 which they got on Origin? And of course, how many more people are registered to Steam compared to Origin? Do you really think that the amount of registered users determines how good or bad a company is?

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

Ventu5+40

Arrogance, arrogance and some more arrogance. This entire post is basically saying we don't like EA because we're all haters without purpose. I, personally, hate EA solely because of the direction that the company is steering video gaming.
"Some people think that free-to-play games and micro-transactions are a pox on gaming. Tens of millions more are playing and loving those games."
Just like tens of millions of people watched 2012 the movie. Tell me now, does that make it a good movie? Do we need more movies like 2012? Perhaps big name movie publishers should steer the entire film market towards movies such as 2012....?
I agree that BP is a far worse company than EA. However, you saying that you're better than BP, at this point in time, is the same as running a presidential campaign on the merit of not being Hitler.
"Hey, America, I'm not the greatest guy around, but at least I'm not Hitler!"
If the poll was on the worst company in the gaming industry EA and Activision would have one close run for first.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

TikoPiko00

I lol'd.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

Inkwaboom00

You cannot play Far Cry 3 on steam. You obviously don't own the game. It forces you to play on Uplay. All steam does is launch Uplay.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

LordCreo+20

@ABCEasyAsALI
Steam: 771 games.
Origin: 1 game
The 1 game is simcity and I would have bought it on Steam if I could have.
I really want BF4 too, but I will not buy it unless it appears on steam, I would sooner miss out on the entire game than have to put Origin back on my PC.

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

Axah12100

191 on Steam, 5 on Origin, battlefield 2142 northern strike, back when EA downloader was green and nasty, battlefield 3, as it forced me, Swtor because it forced me, Sim city, because it forced me and Dead space 3 because of how much of a clusterfuck the latter game was.

Apr 12, 2013

0 Replies

MatllComment Flagged+11-137

I like you Peter. You seem like a cool guy.

Apr 5, 2013

6 Replies

Automatic_Jack+19-4

This was written by some intern. It's just a giant list of their already-debunked talking points. We know the always-on scheme is DRM, that's the very definition of requiring an internet connection to play even in SP mode, with no offline backup possible. We know they're lying about this "anti-LGBT smear campaign" junk, and frankly, that lie in and of itself is worse than anything they've done regarding gaming. This guy isn't a gamer, he's an executive. He doesn't know anything or care in the slightest about games and what makes them good. He just wants a message put out that may convince a few people to give them another shot with their cash. This is just an especially-deceptive ad.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

JuliusMarx+3-8

You clearly have never met or spoken to Peter Moore in person. Every assessment you lob at him in your post is incorrect.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

jreloj+10

Apparently, we've never heard from him either. Jack's right about the intern thing... There's no way someone can become an executive writing at that level.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

simonthumper00

Can we get some more up-votes on this please, as it is clearly sarky...

Apr 13, 2013

0 Replies

MajorAwesome80200

kissass

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

TwwiX+30

You and the other two fans should start a fan club.

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

DirkDeadeye+108-2

Quit closing studios. Quit pumping out **** like Medal of Honor. Medal of Honor could have been a good game, if you actually put some resources behind it. Instead we get another half baked generic war shooter, with ZERO support post launch. Suddenly we're to blame because we didn't buy it by the millions.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

bluehell28+80-4

why are there so many news articles about EA treating its employees like slaves? if true these kinds of issues are reasons why a company should win this poll.

Apr 5, 2013

3 Replies

Inkwaboom+1-2

Yeah because you personally know EA employees.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

durza400+20

That... has nothing to do with what he said. He was saying that IF THESE articles are true about EA's treatment of employees, then those things are reasons to put the company on the top of the worst ever. He never implied knowing them?

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

contrejo2700

They treat their employees really good actually. Any of that stuff you read about is from a while ago. Thats the problem about this stuff. about 80% of all this hate stuff is all about **** that happened like 5 years ago.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

JurjeeComment Flagged+168-5

Put your game on Steam too and we will see how 'great' your Origin will do.

Apr 5, 2013

2 Replies

DanTheKraut+20

Origin would die if they do this!

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

SparkyFlintston+80

I bought SimCity 2013 for my partner, he didn't want it due to the issues, so I used a Steam account to purchase SimCity 4 for him and he is happy as a clam.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

NorthKoreanMikeComment Flagged+10-130

Why are conservatives hating EA when there are much worse companies to hate? I love EA and their tolerance of LGBT group. You are bigot? You are hating gays? I did not think so. Support EA please.

Apr 5, 2013

21 Replies

Automatic_Jack+20-1

Hey look, they hired a Chinese company to cruise the blog posts and insert semi-literate posts supporting their utterly imaginary LGBT advocacy. Gee, I do so wonder why "NorthKoreanMike" and "Luther from Lithuania" posted the exact same garbled nonsense word for word. I do so wonder.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

NorthKoreanMike+3-17

No Chinese hear, authentic North Korean only. Perhaps you should stop hating gays and support EA, very progressive.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

x3Rampage+40

ea is as prograssive as north korea. no offence to north korean here, just stating a fact.

Apr 7, 2013

0 Replies

coolgame34300

So your say in terms of games there getting better but in terms of customer there getting worse

Apr 12, 2013

0 Replies

CassataGames+10

Your intent is no doubt very admirable - supporting a company that supports LGBT. However votes against LGBT are very unlikely the cause of why this company won the poll. Is it possible that it made a large impact? Absolutely. There's no end to the amount of arrogance and persistence that conservative ideology can create. But in this case, I feel EA used it as a cope out. A guilt trip to regain trust. I believe the proper term is scapegoat.
So no, I will not support EA simply because they were the victim of people who are against the LGBT movement. Just because they support it doesn't mean they've got a clean slate. Let's focus on the real cause here.

Apr 11, 2013

0 Replies

KimFromKorea+9-5

I am agree. I am not the hating Gays™. I support the EA™. I love Origin™ account and sure to buy all DLC™ like good unentitled progressive LGBT Gaymer™.
I am not bot, my petition signature is the legitimate.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

FattyMcButtPunch+20

lololololol

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

Hurinfan+10-4

Because most people aren't concerned about single issues. It's nice that they care about that LGBT issues but I don't concern myself about that. I do care about my videogame interests and they really have dropped the ball in almost every area.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

NorthKoreanMikeComment Flagged+2-27

You complain about dropping the ball with video games while conservatives and sports jocks complain about the LGBT community and game case covers? Check your privilege, you homophobic, capitalist pig.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

itzgio+17-1

So hating EA means that I'm a homophobe or a bigot? Better check my privileges then.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

Sedeena_Isabella+20

I don't understand how ANYONE could actually believe that they "Support" lgbt. In The Sims it was just easier to not have to add extra coding. Aside from that, everything else is just them trying to make up for being a terrible company. Buying out corporations and laying off hundreds of employees? Way to show the love.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

AdequateDakka+2-7

Why are conservatives hating EA when there are much worse companies to hate? I love EA and their tolerance of LGBT group. You are bigot? You are hating gays? I did not think so. Support EA please.
- Luther from Lithuania

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

TherealScrable+20

Right, because you hate a company over 10 years, and they just started to support Gays and Lesbians, you got automatically no tolerance, right?
Your comment makes no sense. So go away please, we don't want dumb people here.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

kode000100

Logged into my horrible Origin account just to say you are an awesome troll. Gave me a good smile. Need some more LGBT characters otherwise no one's gonna notice that EA even has any. (What are there like 2(not including custom characters)? it's almost as if EA is ashamed and hiding them away)
Anyways, SimCity was horrible, good job EA! Always online == DRM no it's not an MMO Try another 3 letter acronym though, I'm sure you'll get it (no not really, you guys have the reasoning skills of a 3 year old).

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

sanora87+10

Alright. I'll support EA... going out of business.
Could you make it any more obvious that you're on EA's **** payroll?

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

Madriiax+20

Supporting EA for not being bigots is like supporting a dad for not beating his child.
It's sort of just normal behavior, you know. Do they want a ******* cookie for not supporting bigotry?

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

Ezo350+10

First off I will not be stating my political views or my opinion of EA out right for all to know. So I'm not sure if you are trolling (trolling is saying things with the intention of angering people) or this is your legitimate opinion, but seriously LGBT, your going to bring that into it?! This article is about EA and its corporate mistakes as a video game industry not the politics of the world. Some believe EA made some huge mistakes and need to take responsibility for them, and your going to claim that everyone who believes this way is a conservative bigot who hates gays?!?! So EA supports LGBT, good for them, but to damn anyone who criticizes them as a VIDEO GAME industry! Oh and if you are really from North Korea then how in the world did you get on the internet, isn't that heavily censored and limited as well as full of propaganda like your television and radio services? If you have escaped, and yes I do say escaped from North Korea then good on you, but realize that your political ideology is getting mixed up with a video game corporations "video game"/marketing mistakes. As I am not sure if you are just trolling I say If you work with the North Korean govt. then I will kindly ask you to leave the site and never return (If you haven't figured it out yet I am American). If you work for EA or are just your average internet troll then just quit, you are wasting many peoples times, including your own. In quick summary I state that this argument is irreverent to the argued mistakes of EA, a video game corporation and that everyone has a right to their opinion but should not force it upon others.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

Ezo350+10

Okay so I did not notice the LGBT thing as part of the list of grievances against EA but I still find it irrelevant to the real issue that is whether EA has made mistakes or not.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

contrejo2700

the article states that there were sites telling their traffic to vote for EA because they support LGBT. Thats probably what he's talking about.
Geez put down the pitchfork guys.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

Ezo350+10

I know and I replied to my comment with that information concerning the LGBT stuff, but I still believe that the argument here is irrelevant to EA's real problem, satisfying the consumer. Basically the information concerning EA and LGBT should not concern anyone but themselves as the consumers priority is to be satisfied by EA as a video game industry and personally I think the less politics in gaming the better as it creates threads like this one.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

Lilleth+10

To accept the rights of LGBT people is only natural and democratic. A company should not be supported only for doing the right thing nor do they deserve a medal or support for it. They should do it because it is the right thing to do.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

Ashendie+79-4

Ads appearing in the main menu of BF3 now? .... tut tut. ( I used worse language when I saw it )
45 million registered Origin users? Id love to see the numbers if for some games ie BF3 users we were not forced to install and use it in order to actually play the game.
Try and be the first publisher/developer to think of what the consumer wants. Not what the company wants. Then you will be onto a winner.

Apr 5, 2013

5 Replies

Ashendie+10

No ads in the menu of BF3?... well the banner saying "Fifa 13 buy now" telling me to press square was not an ad no?... Damn I maybe its a football game easter egg....
Inkwaboom "You simply cannot say BF3 is a bad game or the Mass Effect series is bad or even the Bad company series is bad"
Maybe I need my eyes tested... Did I say they were bad games at all? No. I was only stating that bragging about 45 million users is not a statement of happy customers when they have no choice but to install and use it to play games.
Learn to read next time.
Peace

Apr 21, 2013

0 Replies

kathy_koskiComment Flagged+3-1

45 million Origin users, yet not one satisfied customer.

Apr 7, 2013

0 Replies

Inkwaboom+1-2

What the **** are you talking about? There are no ads on BF3 menu. You obviously don't play the ******* game.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

Inkwaboom+1-5

I find it irritating that I have to install steam every time I buy a ******* game. Wait a second this sounds similar to your post. All your implying is that you don't like origin because all your games are on steam. Your post is invalid. Origin is fine and steam if fine. People just like steam because of the hipster movement that "EVERY ONE MUST BE ON STEAM!". There is nothing wrong with origin but the fact that EA wants THEIR games to stand out amongst thousands of other games for sale on steam. Common marketing strategy. Would you rather advertise your game on the back of a news paper or on the FRONT. Common sense and a smart business strategy by EA. Also if EA didn't think about what the consumer wants then they would of never grown to where they are now. You simply cannot say BF3 is a bad game or the Mass Effect series is bad or even the Bad company series is bad. Those were great games and you are simply a brain washed hipster if you say they are bad games. They were high quality and FUN games.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

ShowALK32+10

Steam actually WORKS well. You buy a game, you get it right away. Plus, Valve supports the development of hundreds of indie titles, whereas Origin is all of EA's microtransaction crap. The only reason I'm using Origin is to play Battlefield 3 with my friends. I would have rather bought it on Steam, like I did with Battlefield 2. That way, all of my games are on Steam and I can still use it to communicate with my Steam friends.
I used to not like having to use Steam when I first found out about it, but it's been vastly improved and, now that I've found some really good friends, I love using it as a social medium.
I can't even add the game to my non-Steam list, because launching the game just opens up freakin' Battlelog.

May 2, 2013

0 Replies

Gilgamish+87-3

Pherhaps you should stop buying studios and killing them off before speaking of doing better.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

HurinfanComment Flagged+82-4

I don't care if you claim SimCity always online isn't DRM (it is. Even if that isn't the purpose). If you want to make sure people believe you, make the game playable offline. It is an incredibly easy solution that everyone outside of EA has suggested. Until you do that shut up with your spin BS. You can't exactly claim Origin base as a bonus. How about you poll those users and ask them if they wanted to use Origin and if they use it only to play BF3 or ME3. Ask them if they're satisfied.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

Blazur+23-32

I have no problems with Origin. Competition with Steam is good, and honestly I can't blame you for wanting to maintain market share of your own products.
However I was pretty upset at how SimCity was handled. That game clearly wasn't ready for launch, and I don't appreciate losing hours of progress due to faulty cloud saving. But the free game was a nice gesture.
For what it's worth, I still find Ticketmaster to be more loathsome.

Apr 5, 2013

3 Replies

LordCreo+2-1

It's not 'competition with steam' unless you make the games available on both Origin AND Steam and allow people to decide which platform they use.

Apr 8, 2013

0 Replies

MesSer1024+10

Reading your response, it seems like you see companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google as not being competitors? Due to them not offering the exact same things they can't be competitors(?)

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

Blazur+20

Until other produces started coming out with their own districution systems such as Origin and uPlay, Steam had a monopoly on digital sales. Only because VALVe is honest and reputable does nobody care.
Origin is no doubt lackluster by comparison and has a long way to go to even compete with Steam's offering, but the fact that it exists may prompt Steam to improve their software and offer better incentives for gamers. I wish Steam was the only service and Origin didn't exist, but by now that's not gonna happen. All we can hope for is improvement and sales that compete with Steam. Competition is good. If it weren't for Origin I likely wouldn't have got a free game from SimCity.

Apr 10, 2013

0 Replies

fargofalloutComment Flagged+49-1

I think calling EA the worst company in America is silly, but yes, you can do much, much better. I'm not interested in the debate about whether SimCity requiring a connection is DRM, but I am interested in talking about releasing a product that is so clearly not ready to be consumed by the public. If I went to Best Buy and purchased a TV that didn't work, I would be allowed to return it for a refund or an exchange. For several days, Sim City did not work, yet you did not allow refunds.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

itmustbejjComment Flagged+58-1

Loyalty is a powerful thing, especially in the gaming community. If you respect your customer, the profits will follow. If you try to rip off your customer, they are more likely to rip you off. Other people will still pirate games, but they were never going to be your customers to begin with: learn to write them off.
Treating your customer with respect and identifying with what they want is the best DRM. It is literally that simple.

Apr 5, 2013

2 Replies

asukuuru+40

This is what EA is being forced to realize now. The last few high profile game releases have not been well received by the public. Regardless of how you feel about ME3, there was a controversy. Dead Space 3, SIm City far from ideal releases. Sim city customer review scores are incredibly low and Tiberian Twilight and MoH War fighter did horribly. Those were all strong franchises that are either dead or circling the drain. The fact is EA is not liked by its customers, forcing them to simply pirate a game in order to avoid dealing with EA, and still getting a better product.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

WisemanFugu00

A much better product. A server emulator or local save fix for Sim City would be immensely popular. EA would then point to 'lost sales' and say "This is why we need DRM", but really it is just the gaming community acquiring a working release without corporate consumer-crushing tactics.

Apr 9, 2013

0 Replies

MadJackonVfemail+98-2

The arrogance. That's what grates me the most.
Majority of people despise EA because of its practices. The way it treats its customers. The blatant disregard of our opinions.
Stop the goddamn spin. Of the 45 million users, what's the number if you remove accounts transferred from the old EA (digital) Downloader and the forced accounts? Also, note that +90% of Steam users are damn happy to be on it. I know I am. Origin? Yeah, it has NO value whatsoever. It's just a mandatory inconvenience.

Apr 5, 2013

1 Reply

Belarm2+60

This. This right here.
I am absolutely sick and tired of EA talking to me and its customer base like we're petulant children. Here's what people are asking for, just to provide some balance to EA's spin: We want EA to let their stable of development studios make games, publish them, and sell them to us. (Many would like to be able to do so through steam, because, really, who the hell wants Origin?) We would then like to buy the games, and be able to play them. Forever. On any computer we own. You know, like my copy of SimCity 4 which still works, or my copy of SimCity (the first one), which also still works. Whether your always-online requirement constitutes DRM or not, it will eventually kill the game when you turn off the servers.
Stop telling me how many people you've convinced to create Origin accounts. Stop telling us how many megamiles of road have been laid when people have been able to play SimCity. Stop trying to convince me that I want DRM and micro-transactions, and for the love of all that is good and holy, stop buying good development studios and running them into the goddamned ground.

Apr 6, 2013

0 Replies

DUISparky+67-2

Yes, you can do better. The question is: Will you do better? I have seen no proof of this over the past 10 years. EA has been killing franchises for more than a decade now by pumping out half finished garbage. Anyone remember NASCAR SimRacing? What a piece of garbage that was. Things haven't improved since then. SimCity? What a joke! There's no simulation and no city in SimCity. It should be called The Sims Village. Yes Peter, you can do better. Will you do better? We're all waiting.

Apr 5, 2013

3 Replies

DUISparky+120

I loved this quote:
"SimCity is being enjoyed by millions of passionate fans all over the world."
From what I've heard, a large number of those playing SimCity aren't enjoying it all that much. Whether it be due to the rampant bugs or the flawed mechanics of the Glassbox or the constant and pervasive rollbacks and lost cities. In essence, the new SimCity is a $60 downgrade from a ten year old version.
"The tallest trees catch the most wind. At EA we remain proud and unbowed."
It doesn't seem that you have much to be proud of other than ripping off your customers. Perhaps you should bow a bit, listen to what people really want, and do your best to provide that instead of forcing what you want people to have upon them and being unrepentant about it.
There's good reason so many people are voting EA as the worst company. Figure it out Peter. You sound like an intelligent guy. Figure it out.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

DUISparky+10

Oh, yeah ... Hey Peter, I forgot to mention that until you actually do better, and do so on a consistent basis for at least the next 2 years - you know, not releasing half finished games, actually listening to what the consumer wants, not trying to be tyrants of the gaming world, etc. - no one in my family will be purchasing any EA titles whatsoever. Prove to us that you can do better and that you're willing to listen. Make us believe that you stand by your word. Make quality a priority over quantity. Then perhaps we'll look into buying something you publish. Yeah, I know ... fat chance. I've been watching your company screw the consumers for more than ten years now, and nothing has gotten better. I have no faith in you or EA.

Apr 7, 2013

0 Replies

BarnacleSim+70

That's just it - we will still be waiting. They won't because they think they don't have to. This post by Pete is all bluster, once again.

Apr 5, 2013

0 Replies

itmustbejj+45-1

Also saying SimCity being always-online is not DRM is being disingenuous. EA publically stated it would be impossible to play offline because of complex server blah blah blah which has later been debunked. Modders have made offline play possible with a TWO LINE CODE CHANGE. The online play is half-baked and should have been optional. Unfortunately the way EA has handled this makes it impossible for them to back down, so there will likely never be an official offline mode. #Respectthecustomer

Apr 5, 2013

2 Replies

joobleblob00

I'm no EA fan, but always on functionality isn't the definition of DRM, there's a big difference.

Apr 22, 2013

0 Replies

Grogoch00

You're missing the point. The game WORKS offline!! They removed that functionality and tried to say that it was because of complex server cloud computation yada yada... all lies, all proven. They're trying to dress DRM up as something else in order to make people forget that it's DRM. I'm not falling for it, but you're free to.

May 28, 2013

0 Replies

CarlosSPA+33-2

Simcity fiasco was the straw that broke the camel's back... I bought FIFA 13 on PC 6 months ago and today is still unplayable online, lag and servers errors everywhere. 6 ******* months ago.
Dont know if you are the worst company of America, but the worst of videogames that's for sure.